Introduction: Electronic Drum Kit

Drums are fun, let's face it. But they are too expensive and cumbersome. The solution? Build your own electronic drum kit!

Step 1: The Theory

A keyboard is really a bunch of switches. So to make the drum kit, we build our own switches, and wire them up to a keyboard controller. This plugs into a PC, where a program listens for keypresses, and plays a corresponding .wav file

Step 2: You Will Need

Keyboard

Aluminium Foil

Plastic

Cardboard

Tape

Scissors

Computer

Multimeter

Not shown:.wav files

Step 3: Dissasemble the Keyboard

Pretty simple, attack it with something, just don't break it.

You should see 'sheets' of circuit. There are 2 with printing, and a divider

Step 4: Pad It Up

Put the keyboard aside. Now we need to make the pads.

Grab some cardboard (half Manilla folders work well) and some of the aluminium foil. Put one 'panel' of the foil onto each of the inside panels of the folder (they must not touch). Attach a wire to each of the al foil panels.

Next, cut some plastic to size (I'm using transparencies here), and cut some holes in it, tape it over one of the aluminium panels

Rinse and repeat. I created 2 for the purpose of this instructable.

It is probably a good idea to test with a multimeter

Step 5: Wiring the Pads

On the keyboard sheets there are a variety of circles and lines. These are all conductive, and work on the same principal as out pads (when the two circles touch through the plastic divider, a circuit is made) Look at the edge of the sheets, and each will have a ribbon cable on the end.

We need to select some keys that will correspond to the pads. I have chosen 1 and q because they were the first I saw, and they share a common lead, that means we will have an easier job getting things to the controller.

Once you have selected your keys, follow the line of those keys until you get to the end of the ribbon cable, On the controller there is a socket for the ribbon cable, either remove this and solder to the board, or just shove the cable into the socket so that the wires only touch one 'pad' inside the socket.

Repeat for each pad, and the other sheet.

Step 6: Testing

Plug the thing into your PC, open notepad and start drumming. Only one character should appear for each pad.

If none, or more than one character appears, check your wiring.

Step 7: The Program

The program is simple, it listens for a keypress, and plays the corresponding file.

The program allows 'profiles' to set up a profile, create a new folder where the exe file is named profiles and put a new subdirectory there for each profile. In these folders you should put your .wav files.

Each .wav file should be named {keycode}.wav (so for example one of mine is 49.wav)To find out the keycode for each of your pads, click the find keycode button in the program.

man big BIG problem.......when u play hi hat and base or snare or whatever two things to gether no sound is produced of else only one sound is produced!!!!! :( Can u fix this or else tell another software without any lag in sound....pls help thanx...!!!

Hi Munchman. Great Instructable, but I'm having problems with the software - when I try to run the .exe file I get an error message: "Error: Please make sure there is a profiles directory". I'm using Windows Vista - what should I do, please? Dave

Hi DJG, You'll need to create a folder named 'profiles' in the same location as the .exe file. Within that folder, you'll need to create another folder (named whatever you want), with your .wav files in it. Hope this helps :)

Hi, I´m really interested in making one of these, and I would like to know if this diagram will work, because, seriously, I find it easier to do ;) If no one can answer this, I´ll try and share my results.

Thanks in advance.

munchman: your instructable is great, but IMHO, maybe you could try not to use slang, and to explain a bit more on some sections. I mean, it´s understandable, but... well, it can always be better.

hello people I've got a little problem I've got the key codes and I've potted in the profile, but to play the notes I've just to hit the pads, but when i hit them no sound come of my speakers. could somebody help me plz. reply quickly plz, i need this as sone as possible thanks for your time

hey there...dude am also trying the process that you showed in this tutorial. but isnt it better if we use piezo transducers instead of aluminium foil to complete the circuit. please reply i am in the middle of process... waitinzz

dude am trying......but the problem is that piezo works both ways.. that is tht it makes sound when current is given and generate current when force is applied.and when i atttached the keyboard extended wires with pzo the circuit was completed. can u help me with any idea that the piezo only takes input as force and should ignore any sort of current comin from the keyboard wires
thx